Coincidental lock



. March 31, 1931. T. c; VAN DEGRIFT 1,798,917

COINCIDENTAL LOCK Filed March 20. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 COAST/N6 March 1931- T. c. VAN DEGRIFTY COINCIDENTAL LOCK Filed March 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 war/2w C VII/1,! zy/ Patented Mar.31, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS C. VAN'DEGRIFT, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, .ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS RESEARCH CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE COINCIDENTAL LOCK Application filed March 20, 1929. Serial No. 348,456.

This invention relates to locks of the coincidental type and is particularly adaptable to automotive vehicles for locking the transmission and the ignition.

It is the object of the invention to construct a coincidental lock which will be fool proof, capable of easy installation, and which conforms to the specifications of the insurance underwriters. It is also an object of the at the instrument board and on this barrel 0 there is rigidly secured a gear segment which operates a reciprocable rack. The end of the rack is provided with a conducting element which is adapted to make and break a pair of ignition contacts. There is also secured to the rack a wire which operates a plunger at the transmission which plunger is adapted to enp gage in corresponding recesses in the transmission housing and in a plate, reciprocable with the transmission control lever,- to prevent the movement of the lever and thereby lock the transmission.

The lock is of the key operated type and upon insertion of the key a reciprocable rod is depressed against the tension of a spring. The rod carries a contact which completes a circuit when depressed. Operatively connected to the rod is a latch which is controlled by a plunger operated by an electrotion a governor will break the circuit and' de-energize the magnet, premitting the plunger to force the catch into engagement with the latch to hold the latter and prevent the reciprocable plunger from returning to its original position;

The lock barrel of the invention is adapted to assume one or two extreme positions; i. e.

locked or unlocked; any intermediate position is prevented by a snap catch which forces the barrel to either the locked or unlocked position.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows the invention applied to an automotive vehicle.

Fig. 2 shows diagrammatic respresentations of three diflerent positions of the lock.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the lock barrel.

,Fig. 4 is a section on the line H of Fig. 3, with a portion of the transmission shown in section to illustrate the transmission lock.

Fig. 5 is a detailed View through the latch and catch.

Fig. 6 is a detailed view of the governor.

'Fig. 7 is a detail of the connection between the speedometer drive and the governor.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 2 in dicates an automotive vehicle as a whole. The vehicle has the usual hood 4, engine 6, transmission 8, transmission control lever 10, dash 12 and instrument board 14. These arts are conventional and per se form no part of the invention.

The lock of the invention is indicated as a whole at 16. This lock is mounted at the instrument board 14 and includes the outer housing portion 18 which encloses the operating mechanism. The housing 18 has a flange 20 at its front end which is adapted to mate or conform to the groove 22 at the end of the key 24.

The rotatable lock barrel of the lock is indicated at 26. Suitable key operated pins 28 are provided in the lock barrel 26 and in the housing 18 in the well known manner and preferably integrally connected with the rotatable barrel 26 is the segment-30 which meshes with and operates the rack 32 in an extension 34- of the housing 18..

At one end of the rack 34 there is positioned the insulation 36 on theend of which there ismounted the electrical conducting cap 38. The cap 38 and insulation 36 are adapted to make and break the circuit between the contacts 40 of the ignition which contacts are suitably secured to the ignition wires 42, which extend through an armored casing 44. I The'contacts 40 are connected to terminals 39 and 41 suitably mounted in the insulating blocks or rings 43 and 45 surrounding the rack end and inclosed in the enlarged portion 47 of the housing 18.

Secured to the rack 32 and passing through the opposite end 46 is .a wire 48 which extends into the transmission housing 50 and has secured thereto the plunger 52. The plunger 52 includes the outer telescopic cap portion 54 and the inner telescopic porthat the plate is held in the transmission.

housing in the groove or slots 64. The size of the opening 60 is such as to permit of the lever 10 swinging in the opposite direction or transversely without moving the plate.

The plate 62 is provided with a recess or groove. 66 which is adapted to conform or mate with the recesses 58 of the transmission housing when the lever and transmission are in neutral, or the position shown in' Fig. 4. When the lever 10 is shifted so "as to throw the gears of the transmission into any other than neutral position, the recess 0r groove 66 will not conform to the recesses 58 and it will therefore be impossible to pull the plunger 52 from the right hand recess 58 to lock the transmission. If the wire 48 is pulled the cap portion 56 of the collapsible plunger 52 will be depressed or the portion 52 will slide up into the head 56 depressing the spring 59. When the lever 10 is shifted to neutral position, the recess 66 will conform to the groove 58 and the plunger head 56 will then be shot into the groove by the spring 59. The purpose of the construction is to permit the breaking of the ignition while the gears of the transmission are in mesh which will allow coasting with the ignition broken.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the lock barrel is provided with an opening 70 in which there slides the reciprocable rod or plunger 72, adapted to be engaged by the notched portion 74 on the key 24 when the key is inserted. 'The insertion of the key will depress the rod 72 against the tension of the coil spring 74 and cause the contact 76 on the rod end to bridge the terminals 78 to cause thecompletion of the circuit 80. The rod 72 is formed with a rack portion 82 meshing with the gear 84 rigid with the shaft 86 mounted in the housing 18. Also rigidly mounted on the shaft 86 are the cam shaped latches 88 which are adapted tobe engaged by the catch 90 mounted in the forked end 92 of a rod 94, the "end 96 of which slides in an electromagnet 98 and has a disc portion or armature 100 which is adapted to be attracted by the magnet.

The lock mechanism of the invention is .provided with a governor 102 which is opbut when the vehicle moves, the flexible shaft 104 will rotate the governor, the centrifugal force causing the mercuryto move to the end of the tube and break the circuit 80. The shaft 107 and housing 106 are suitably insulated from the speedometer drive shaft 104 and its casing.

Referring again to Fig.3 which shows the position of the parts immediately upon insertion of the key, it will be understood that thecompletion of the circuit 80 will cause the energization of a relay 114 (Fig. 2) which will complete the circuitof the electro-magnet 98 to cause its energization and attract the disc thereto. The completion of the circuit is allowed only when the governor is stationary or in the position shown in Fig. 6, which corresponds to the stationary pos1- tion of the vehicle. The pulling of the disc 100 toward the magnet will withdraw the catch 90 from the latch 88'and permit the return of the plunger 72 to eject the key,

provided the key has not been rotated to cause the groove 22 to engage with the flange 20. Upon the vehicle moving, the governor 102-will break the circuit 80 causing the deenergization of the magnet 98 and thereby allow the spring 115 to return the plunger 94 to engage the latch 88 to prevent the rotation of the gear 84 and thereby hold the rod 72in stationary position. This is of advantage during coasting as will be later described. Q T 7 Referring to Fig. 2, the first diagrammatic sketch, or at rest position, shows the posit1on of the parts while the Vehicle is at rest. In this position it will be noted that the contacts at 78 and circuit 80 are broken, due to the fact that the connector 76 is separated therefrom. The governor 102 is in the positlon shown in Fig. 6 and accordingly closes the contact for the terminals 112. The cap 38 is shown separated from the contacts 40 which breaks the ignition, and the plunger 52 is shown in engagement with the groove 66 in the slidable plate 62 thereby locking the transmission. The breaking of the contacts at 7 S-deenergizes the relay 114 and prevents the energization of the electro-magnet 98 which permits the rod 94 to assume the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The secpnd or running sketch shows the unlocked position of the vehicle. The key 24 has been inserted in the lock, depressing the plunger or rod 72, rotating the gear 84.

and latches 88 to cause the cam finger to engage back of the catch 90 and causing the completion of the circuit at the contacts 78 which energizes the electromagnet and draws the disc 100 and rod 94 thereto. The key 24 and barrel 26 have been rotated to move the rack, make the ignition contacts 40 and withdraw the plunger 52 from transmission locking position. When the vehicle is in motion the mercury 110 is forced to the outermost portion of the container 108 and the contacts at 112 are therefore broken as shown at 112 which breaks the circuit for the electro-magnet 98 and causes the catch 90 to engage back of the projecting finger on the latch 88 to prevent the return of the latch and thereby hold the rod 72 in the position shown.

The last or coasting sketch of Fig. 2 shows the position for coasting in which the lock has been rotated to its original or at rest position to remove the cap 38 from the ignition contacts 40 thereby breaking the circuit. The groove 66 in the plate 62, however, does not conform to the recesses 58 in the transmission housing because the transmission gears are in mesh and as the plunger 52-strikes against the flat portion of the plate, the head 56 will be depressed. Inasmuch as the circuit is not energized due to the rotation of the governor, the catch 90 still retains the latch 88 in position which will prevent the spring 7 4 from ejecting the key 24 from the lock.

As a result of the invention, it will be seen that there has been provided a coincidental lock which will force the removal of the key when the car is in locked position. The invention also has the advantage of being able to throw off the ignition while the car is coasting and in gear, without locking the transmission.

By referring to Fig. 4, it will be noted that means is provided to compel the lock barrel and key to take one of two extreme positions,that is, either the at rest position or the running position. This means comprises the lugs 120 and 122 on the interior of the housing 18. The rotatable barrel 26 is provided with teeth 124 and. 127 which are adapted to strike against the lugs 120 or 122 to limit the throw of the lock barrel 26. The housing 18 is provided with a cylindrical extension 126 closed at its end by means of the plug 128. Working in the cylindrical extension 126 is the hollow plunger 130 and received in the hollow portion of the plunger and held by a knob 132 on the plug 128 is the coil spring 134 which constantly urges the plunger upwardly toward the rotatable barrel 26. Pivoted to the end of the plunger 130 as at 136 is the latch or dog 138 which fits into the groove 140 between the teeth 124 and 126. As the barrel is moved slightly over center the pressure of the spring 134 against the plunger 130 will push on the latch 140 and force the barrel to one of the extreme positions determined by the lugs 120, 122 and the teeth 124 and 126. It will therefore be seen that only two positions of the lock are permitted.

speedometer drive has a gear 150 secured thereto which gear is housed within the casing 152. A second gear 154 meshes with the gear 150 and is mounted in the housing 152 and is secured to'the end of a flexible shaft inclosed in the casing 156 leading to the speedometer.

I claim:

1. In combination with a vehicle having a transmission and an ignition system, means for locking the transmission, means for'making and breaking the ignition, common locking means for simultaneously operating both said means, and means for preventing the locking of said transmission when the vehicle is being propelled.

2. In combination with a vehicle having a transmission and an ignition system, means i for lockingthe transmission, means for making and breaking the ignition,'comm on locking means for simultareously operatlng both said means, and means controlled'by a moving part of the vehicle to prevent the locking of said transmission when the vehicle is being propelled.

3. In combination with a vehicle having a transmission, an ignition. system and a speedometer drive, means for locking the transmission, means for making and breaking the ignition, common locking means for simultaneously operating both said means, and means controlled by the speedometer drive to prevent the locking of said transmlssion while the vehicle is being propelled.

4. In 'a coincidental lock for locking the transmission and ignition of a vehicle, means to lock the transmission, means to make and break the ignition circuit while the vehicle is in motion, and means to prevent the looking of the transmission while the vehicle is in motion. 1

5. In a coincidental lock for locking the ignition and a control element of a vehicle, means to lock the control element, means to make and break the ignition circuit while the vehicle is in motion, and means to prevent the locking of the control element while the vehicle is in motion.

6. In a coincidental lock for locking the ignition and a control element of a vehicle, means to lock the control element, means to make and break the ignition circuit while the vehicle is coasting, and means to prevent the locking of the control element while the vehicle is in motion.

7. In a key operated coincidental lock forlocking the ignition and a control element of a vehicle, a rotatable lock barrel, an electrical contact in said barrel, mean-s for closing said contact incident to the insertion of the key,

a latch for controlling said means, means 1n-' cident to the closing of said contact for controlling said latch, means operative on movement of said vehicle to break the circuit of said contact to restore said latch controlling means to latch retaining position to prevent the movement of said first named means to contact open position, said latch controlling means in latch retaining position preventing the ejection of said key from said barrel, the rotation of said barrel causing the operation of the locking and unlocking means for the control element and ignition.

8. In a key operated coincidental lock for locking the ignition and a control element of a vehicle, a key operated rotatable lock barrel, movable means incident to the insertion of the key to close an electric circuit, a latch for said means, latch control means operable to release-said latch on closing of said circuit, means operable from a movable part of the vehicle xfor breaking said, circuit to restore said latch control means to latch retaining position to prevent the return of said movable means, and means operable by the rotation of saidbarrel for operating the locking means for the ignition and control element.

9. In a'key operated coincidental lock for locking the ignition and a control element of a vehicle, a rotatable lock barrel, a gear segment secured to said barrel, a rack meshing with said segment, a pair of ignition contacts on opposite sides of said rack, means on said rack adapted to make and break said pair of contacts in response to movements of said rack, and means operatively connected with said rack to move therewith to lock and unlock said control element.

10. In a coincidental lock for locking the ignition and a control element of a vehicle, a rotatable lock barrel, a gear segment on said barrel, a rack operable by said segment, ignition contacts adapted to be made and broken by the movement of said rack, and means attached to said rack and adapted to move therewith to lock the said control element simultaneously with the breaking of the ignition circuit.

11. In a key operated coincidental lock for locking the ignition and a control element of a vehicle, a rotatable lock barrel, a reciprocable spring actuated rod in said barrel said rod adapted to be moved a ainst the tension of said spring by the insertion of the I key and to eject the key when in locked position of the look, a segment secured to said barrel, a rack operated by said segment, an ignition circuit adapted to be made and broken by said rack, and means attached to said rack to be operated thereby for locking said control element.

12. In a coincidental lock for locking the ignition and transmission of a vehicle, a rotatable barrel for simultaneously controlling the locking means for the ignition and transmission, said transmission capable of being locked only when in neutral, and means for rotating said barrel to throw off said ignition and to operate said transmission locking means while the transmission is in other than neutral position.

13. In a transmisison lock, a shiftable lever for controlling the transmission, a plate reciprocable with said lever in one direction only, movable means for engaging said plate to prevent it from movement when said lever and transmisison are in neutral position only, and means for operating said movable means regardless of the positlon of said plate or lever.

14. In a transmission look, a shiftable lever for controlling said transmission, a plate reciprocable with said lever in one directiononly, recesses in the transmission casing and said plate adapted to mate or conform only when said transmission is in neutral position, means adapted to be shifted to engage both recesses to p event movement of said lever to thereby lock the transmission, and means for operating said last named means regardless of the position of the plate.

15. In a transmission lock, a shiftable lever for controlling said transmission, a plate reciprocable with said lever in one di-' rection only, means engaging said plate and the transmission housing when the transmission is in neutral only to lock the transmission, said means including a depressible head permitting the operation of said means regardless of the position of said plate.

16. In a key operated lock for vehicles, a housing, a rotatable lock-barrel in said housing, a reciprocable rod in said barrel movable in one direction by the key, a contact on said rod for making and breaking an electric circuit, a governor operated by the vehicle for controlling said circuit, an electromagnet energized by said circuit, an armature actuated by said electromagnet, a rod actuated by said armature, and means on said rods and in said housing for preventing the reciprocation of said first named rod when the vehicle is in motion.

17. In a lock for vehicles, a housing, a ro- Ill) hicle for controlling said circuit, an electro magnet energized by said circuit, an armature controlled by said magnet, a rod actuated by said armature, a gear mounted in said housing and engaging said rack, and means controlled by said second named rod adapted to prevent said gear from turning to prevent the reciprocation of said first named rod when the vehicle is in-motion.

18. In a key operated lock, a housing, a lock barrel in said housing rotatable by said key, a rod in said barrel moved in one direction by the key, a spring for moving the rod in the opposite direction to eject said key, means responsive on the reciprocation of said rod for making and breaking an electric circuit, an electromagnet energized by said circuit, a reciprocable member operated by said magnet, a latch operated from said rod, and means on said member adapted to engage and disengage said latch to prevent or allow respectively the operation of said rod.

, 19. In a key operated lock, a housing,a lock barrel in said housing rotatable by the key, a rod reciprocable in said barrel and movable in one direction by the key and spring pressed in the opposite direction to eject the key, a contact on said rod to make and break a circuit, an electromagnet energized by said circuit, an armature operated by said magnet, a rod mounted in said barrel and moved by said armature, and means in the housing and on both rods to at times prevent the movement of said first named rod to eject the key.

20. In combination with a vehicle having a transmission and an ignition system, means for locking the transmission, a means for making and breaking the ignition, common key operated locking means for simultaneously operating both said means, and means for preventing the locking of said transm ssion when the vehicle is being propelled, sald common locking means ejecting the key when in locked position.

21. In combination with a vehicle having a transmission and an ignition system, means for locking the transmission, means for making and breaking the ignition, and common means for simultaneously operating both of said means, said common locking means operable to break the ignition but not lock the transmission when the vehicle is in motion and the transmission in gear.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' THOMAS C. VAN DEGRIFT. 

